Advices o a roadtrip in NY, CA, AZ and NV

This September I am planning a trip in the USA and I wonder if someone could give me answers to the questions I have. First - short introduction. Last year me and my wife travelled by car from Chicago (IL) to Hilton Head Island (SC). After this trip we also spend two nights in New York. That trip wasn’t planned very well, so to speak, so this time I want to make it right.
If you don’t want to right you can simply point me to any Internet source regarding my questions. I am doing extensive research myself, but I also want to get local people opinion which may be worth much more.
Trip schedule will be something like this: 2 nights in New York – flight to Los Angeles – 9 nights to get to Las Vegas – flight from Las Vegas to Chicago. All this we will try to do on a tight budget.
New York. What are safe areas and what are areas to avoid? Last time I stayed in a hostel which was in Queens, near Jamaica station. Had to travel at night on foot. Although nothing happened, but were was time or two then I thought I am going to get my ass kicked. So this time I want to stay in Manhattan area – hotel or hostel , it doesn’t matter. Do you have any recommendations? Also, what should I visit in New York? Last time went to some Broadway musical, Time square, Aircraft carrier museum, Central park. Where you could eat if you are on a tight budget?
Los Angeles. First we got the tickets (very cheap) and only next we took a look where are we traveling. Encouraging was the article I found – “Los Angeles is the capital of the gangs”. Is it true? Is it overreacted? Same questions - what are safe areas and what are areas to avoid? And please don’t answer with humor – “well, it depends on which gang you are in”. Are there any “gang colors” which I should avoid? I may sound stupid, but please remember I have no previous knowledge of this area. I am just trying to be precocious.
From Los Angeles we have to get to Las Vegas on our own, so we will rent a car and will travel through the states for 9 days. We can stay 1 or 2 nights in Los Angeles to visit the city. Questions would be similar: what to see, where to stay, where to eat, which places to avoid?
After Los Angeles we will try to head north to San Francisco visiting on the way all the places on the coast. After San Francisco we will go to Grand Canyon (Arizona). On the way we will try to visit as much monuments, parks, museums etc. as possible (Death Valley, Giant Redwood, Yosemite National park etc.). Because time is short we won’t be able to see everything – what would be your recommendations?
Las Vegas. Will stay only for 2 nights. Same questions: what to see, where to stay, where to eat, which places to avoid?
Chicago. Lived for almost a year, saw practically everything, but maybe you can add some places to visit?
Of course places you visit depend on what you like. I love to visit national parks, natural wonders, technology museums, car shows, everything related to the military (could be an old lonely plane – I would go miles to see it). Maybe at my traveling time (September) where is some local event – I would be more than glad to visit it.
Last time we rented a car for a huge sum of money. They practically robbed us on everything. This time I promised myself it won’t happened again. Any advice on renting a car? Now reading a bunch of info about it, but maybe you have personal experience.
Driving rules in California, Arizona and Nevada. I have Illinois issued driving license and I am wondering if the rules differ very much in these states from Illinois state? I downloaded official rules, but are there any unofficial rules? Hidden rules? For example, news for me was, you can't have an open bottle of alcohol in your car (CA).
Any weather issues in these 3 states? Tornado, earthquake or something

Thank you very much.
Matt

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Comments

earweed

For Vegas, plan ahead to catch some shows.
If it's not too far out of your way visit the Hoover Dam. It is indeed an engineering marvel.
For Chicago I really liked Welcome to The Museum of Science and Industry . You mentioned liking Military stuff and they have the only captured German WW2 sub there.

GAngel

Check out the jetblue flight pass they have going for 3 more days. Why rent a car when you can fly wherever you want.

The gangs in L.A don't bother people and you won't really notice them. The worse you'll probably come across is guys trying to sell you cd's on a beach boardwalk. L.A the city is boring as well during the day. You'll want to get out to the beaches (manhattan, hermosa). Hollywood is more of a day trip than an adventure (It does get pretty cool on the boulevard at night though then head down to sunset if you like partying) and disney if you're into that is way off in anaheim which is zzzz as well.
It's cheap to get to vegas from l.a there are busses that are around 3 hours I think for like $50 and planes take 45 mins for about $100. Never driven so can't say.
As for vegas shows you can buy them on the strip or get them comped at hotels for way less than through a site. Grand canyon, hoover dam etc are boring zzzz. Great to see once and take some photos but you'll want to be out of the baking sun within a few hours. Where to stay depends on your taste and the kind of athmosphere you like.

Shoot me a pm when you'll be in which cities an maybe we can catch a beer if i'm around.

[Deleted User]

You're only going to be in Vegas for 2 nights!? I am going in October for 5 days and I feel like that is going to be wayy too short. I think the best way to find stuff out about the particular cities would be to ask people who have gone there. I know just through researching Vegas that there are a ton of great websites. My favorite resource currently is cheapovegas.com but it is kind of overwhelming. Hope this helps a bit!

Stotic

New York - hotels in and around Manhattan are going to be expensive - that's something you're just going to have to deal with. I find it hilarious that you ended up in Jamaica your first go-around (not a really tourist friendly area). For cheap food, check out the village (below 14th st) and avoid midtown.

Some things I'd recommend to a tourist in NYC:
- Top of the Rock (rockefeller center)
- Circle Line tour (cruises around manhattan or just NY harbor) - 42nd st and West Side Highway
- Alternatively you can take the free Staten Island ferry from lower manhattan to Staten Island and return
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Museum of National History
- South Street Seaport
- Governors Island, free ferry from Seaport (cool view of Manhattan, but not much else going on)
- Bronx Zoo
- Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island (I know that you can buy package deals that kind of give you tickets to all the typical touristy things)
- Comedy Cellar in the village (make reservations online)
- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens & Prospect Park
- Check out the Lower East Side for cool bars or Katz Deli

- Chelsea Piers @ 23rd st and West Side highway - Free kayaking in hudson river

That should cover you for 2 days.

Asif Dasl

New York - try staying in New Jersey, I will be travelling to the US in October and will be staying in the Econo Lodge Newark International. It is cheap by Manhattan standards and is right beside the 112 NJ Transit bus stop - 15 minutes and you are in the PA bus terminal. Go bowling on the second floor of the PA bus terminal just because you can. Maybe see the Blue Man Group here or in Vegas.

Los Angeles - consider using an Amtrak California Rail Pass. You can travel to Anaheim (Disneyland), San Diego, Santa Barbara or San Francisco using it and get to see the beautiful California coast too. Use the Metro to get to Hollywood, walk the Hollywood walk of fame, pick someone you'd like to see. Go to Long Beach to visit the Queen Mary ship. Go to Universal Studios in Universal City if you have the time & money. Use the Metro buses to get to Santa Monica or Venice beaches. Bring red shorts for Venice beach for that iconic Baywatch photo! For me, LA has confusing bus routes, NY was much easier to navigate. I felt safe in LA (mostly northern) but I hear Compton is one to avoid!!!

Las Vegas - visit the Fremont Street Experience in the Las Vegas old town (north) - the Golden Nugget Casino there has a drinks holder shaped like a pair of dice - highly recommended! I particularly liked Queen & Don McLean's American Pie at Fremont. Go to the strip (south) and visit as many casinos as you can, just to take in how much effort has gone in to make places like The Paris, NY NY & The Bellagio exist, see the Bellagio fountains. Take in a show if you can like Penn & Teller. Eat in the Strip casinos, the food in the old town is not great. Hotels in the old town are cheaper though, check eDreams.com

If I were you, I would get to San Francisco as quick as possible after you arrive in LA, that way when you travel back south to properly visit LA you are closer to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam day tours that leave from there. If you have time you might be able to fit in a quick visit to San Diego. While in San Francisco visit Alcatraz, Lombard Street & The Golden Gate Bridge. As mentioned above, you could catch an overnight Greyhound bus from LA to Las Vegas which will leave you in the old town - if you do that, get a quick taxi from LA Union Station to the Greyhound station as the neighbourhood isn't great!

Have a great trip!

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Qord

I'm a New Yorker at heart, so I'd suggest spending as much time as you can there. I'm pretty opinionated about it, but there's nothing better than a bottle, a good book, and a park bench in Washington Square.

Anyway, I had a conference to go to in Kansas this past June, and I dragged my girlfriend along with me. We used http://www.goby.com/ to find stuff to do together, as well as stuff for her to do while I was at meetings all day.

Matt27[lt]

Thanks to all the answers, suggestions, links and proposals. Short answers:
1. Why rent a car? Because it's a road trip from LA to Vegas:) and I have 9 days to kill.
2. Hoover dam. Definitely a place to visit. Why? Because it's freakin awesome to visit places you saw only in Discovery channel. And it's going to be closed soon, so it's the last chance.
3. Chicago Museums of science and industry. Visiting every time I am in Chicago. Still amazes me.
4. Why Vegas only 2 nights? My travel purpose is to get a stamp in a passport and to see as much of the USA as possible. So staying in one place for long isn't an option. Although, I have no doubt, I could get some quality time in Vegas

For now I have booked Broadway hostel in NY, and Seaview hotel in Santa Monica. For Vegas and everything else still couldn't find time. Well, I guess, I 'll have to improvise again.
Thank you again.